Hydrant.



No. 894,898. 8 E ATENTED AUG. 4, 1908.

A. OWEN. HYDRANT.

APPLICATION FILED P153 26, 1906.

2 SHEETSF3HEET 1.

No. 894,898. PATENTED AUG. 4, 1908.

- A. OWEN. I

VHYDRANT. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25,}906.

2 SHEETS-*SHEET 2.

, 0F SPRINGFTELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

HYDRANT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 4;, 1908.

' Application filed February 26, 1906. Serial No. 303,058.

To all whom it may concern;

Be. it known that l, GEORGE ALFRED OWEN, a citiZcn,-of the United States .of America, and r sident of Springfield, in the coin'ity of I-l ampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Imprkweznonts in llydrants, of which the fol lowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in hydrants, especially to the class of fire hydrants such as are commonly located near presenting no obstruction or impediment to the free passing of persons or vehicles thereabove, and with no liability of being struck by runaway or carelessly handled vehicles,

and possibly broken, and having contained and guided within said body portion a hose provided tubular stamlard which, when occasion requires, may be quickly elevated into operative position above the ground by valve controlled hydraulic means.

Another object of the invention is attained by the cornbinationwith the hydrant standard of a rotatable reel mounted thereon, and carrying a length of hose, with a nozzle pipe, and all coupled in operative connection with the hydrant nozzle, I

Another feature of the invention consists in the water excluding hydrant body cover which is normally level with the ground surface. and in a second water excluding body cover which closes the top of the reel compartment of the hydrant body when the noz- Zlc standard is raised to its working position.

A still further feature of the invention consists in a t-clescopic'hose drying tower or pole, and a sub-constructed receptacle therefor, having a closing cover, such drying device being attached to and constituting an adjunct of the above described improved hydrant. The necessity for an adequate means located adjacent the hydrant for draining and drying the hose connected thereto is obvious, owing to the generally isolated position of hydrants and their distance from fire department houses having hose towers.

Another object is to provide, automaticmeans for the draining of the hydrant when closed after use.

Other objects of the invention are shown .as capable of being car ied out in the means and mechanisms shown and hereinafter more fully described. And the invention consists in the arrangements or combinations of parts and the constructions of certain of the parts all substantially as hcreinafterfully described, and. set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation as taken centrally vertically through the hydrant, in its closed position. Fig. 2 is a similar elevation and partial section showing the position assumed by the parts when the hydrant is in itsraised or operative position. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. 4 is a side elevation on a smaller scale of the hydrant with the. attached hose drying device'in its raised position'for use,-a length of hosebeing shown as supported thereon. Fig. 5 is a vertical section, on a scale larger than that of Fig. 4, of the hose drying devices as i1 their closed or telescoped position within their under-- ground receptacle.

Similar characters of reference indicate cor responding parts in all of the views.

In the drawings,A- is the cylindrical tubular hydrant casing, or body, as it will be herein called, and comprises a tubular and flanged lower portion A which is extendeddownward below the ground surface X and is bolted at its lower end to the ordinary hydrant gate-valve B of a pressure carrying branchpipe B of a water main.

The upper receptacle portion C of the body A which is preferably integral with the lower cylinder portion A is of increased diameter and is braced relatively to the portion A by the bracket webs c, and has provided in the bottom wallthereof, and between the webs c the drainage holes 0. The tubular section A is internally bored through its entire lengthwise extent, and receives within this bored, and finished, surface a the tubular hydraulic piston or standard I). The lower end portion of this standard, has provided thereon the acking rings -(l, d, which have a water-tight ut sliding engagement with the tube surface a of the body portion A and guidesthe lower end of standard D therewithin during the elevation of the movable of the hydrant.

A threaded bushing or sleeve d at the standard portion junction of the portions A and C of the body A, serves also as a guide for the standard D. The upper end portion of the tubular standard D has formed thereon the circular receptacle cover E, which cover also forms a closure for the upper end of the receptacle portion C and the chamber D of the standard D. The diameter of this cover E is about equalto the internal diameter of the receptacle (3; and in the normal, or closed position of the hydrant, as shown in Fig. 1, the cover enters the top portion of recepta cle C and engages and rests upon the internally provi ded flange ring G, the annu la r p :1 oking ring a on the under marginal portion of cover E insuring a tight seat therefor, and also an adequate provision against the leakage of surface water into the receptacle C when the hydrant is closed. The flange ring G is made separately from the receptacle portion C, and is made .with a driving ht for the position it occupiesl A second circular cover F for the closing ol" the receptacle against the entrance thereinto of surface water, snow, or dirt, on occasions I whenthe hydrant standard D is raised to its operative position, as illustrated in Fig. 2, is constructed in half section and is attached to the standard. at the proper distance'there- 6n below the cover E. A flange f formed. on

t the lower peripheral edge of this cover F contacts with the under side surface of the receptacle flange G on the raising of standard D, and cpnstitutes an abutment or stop for i the limitation of such upward movement of the standard.

For the purpose of insuring a water excluding contact between the cover flange f and the receptacle flange'G, a rubber gasket orpacking ring f is provided on the upper surface of the cover flange f. (See Figs. 1 and 2.)

Referring now to Fig. 1 the gate-valve B, shown as closing th end of branch pipe B from a pressure'--1nain, is of an ordinary and well known type, in which the gate 6 thereof is provided with. a valve rod Neonnected to a screw 1) which has a screw threaded engagement with said gate 1) to the end that a rotational movement imparted to thes'aid valve red 6 acts through the screw 6 raise or lower the gate b.

In the construction of the hydrant forming the subject of this invention, the valve rod b has aspline groove formed therein which is engaged by a splineprovided tubular e;- tension G which extends downwardly from the cover E into the receptacle (l and standard D, and which receives within and slides on the valve rod 11, and thereby constitutes an extensible part of the same, and compensates for the vertical movements imparted to the standard 1). The connection of the upper end of the tubular portion (l of the valve rod 7) to the cover. E. is formed Q ceases as follows: A short stud g'which is pioi; t or otherwise secured to the tube (l, [)l'Ujltlr. u nvardly through a hole c in the cover ii, and also through a handle provided (ollal' ll, to which it is pinned.

A shouldered. projection of the collar ll extends dowmvard into an enlarged upper portion of hole 0 and compresses a suitable packing therewithin forming anellicicnt st oil'- ing box for the prevention of leakage around the handle collar.

The handle 1 of the valve rod collar H is pivoted thereto at i and when the hydrant is in its closed position, as shown in Pig. 1, the said handle occupies a position within the cover recess 'i" and below the level ol lbe surface X A nozzle J for the attzuihment of hose couplings, as K, is formed on the standard 1), just beneath the rover E thereof, and a suitable valve 7' is provided thereon, whereby the water pressure from the main may be turned on or oil in any extent desired.

The lower portion of the gate valve ll has attached thereto an automatically operating drainage valve Q which comimlnicates by the pipe Q with a sewer )ipe or delivers otherwise. lhis valve Q has a central, counter-- bored vertical hole 2' therein, in the lower end portion ol which is attached the drain pipe {1. A vertically movable valve plug S having a flanged lower end portion is litted within this counterborcd hole r and is upwardly pressed against the gate 1) by a. spring 2?. This valve plug S has a centrally l'ormcd ,borc or hole 8 therein which extends vertically from its bottom or flanged end to a point adjacent the top or contact end thereof; transverse openings or ports s at the upper end of this central hole .9 extend therefrom. and register with the drainage holes .v" leading from the base of the valve ll when the said valve gate is in its closed position, as illustrated in l ig. l.

When the gate 1) ol' the valve 13 is raised to admit water pressure to the hydrant the valvc plug S is caused to rise with it by the u ward pressure of the spring t thereon, at which time the valve plug openings s are carried above and out of registry with the drainage holes s", thereby ell'ertually closing the drainage outlet, said closure being muiutamed automatically by the upwardly spring pressed valve plug S.

A drainage outlet from the valve B is automatically established by the lowering and closing of gate 1), which, by its downward the hydrant nozzles sea-cos lhehydrant-nozzlcJ. l/Vhenthehydrantisin as desired its closed position, the hose is wound on the reel l. in a manner to leave the hose nozzlepipe 11 on the outside, as illustrated in. Fig.

A passage or conduit leads from the stand ard l) to an o )cning in the cover E forthc introduction oi steam or hctwatcr for thawing out the hydrant on occasions, during freezing weather which may require it. The steam or hot water used for thawing may all pass oil through the drainage pipe (1, or a way for some thereof may be through one oi vA screw cap 0 fitted in the cover E closes this conduit 0, and as a convenient provision thereof for the purpose of unscrewing the ca 0, or for lifting the standard D, manually, a andle 0 is provided inthe recessed top of the screw engaged top, see Figs. 1 and 3.

A second handle P, to be used in connection with handle 0 for liftin the coverEand standard D, is provided in t ie to side of the cover E at a point diametrically opposite In operation :Assuming the hydrant to he I 1n\its normal or'closed )osition, the valverod ,handle I is lifted to t i the ate valve B e position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and in full lines in Fig. 2, and is then turned a part of a rotation or sufliciently far to admit a small portion of the pressure of the water main to pass from and to enter the chamber D o the standard D, and fill the same, immediately following which the standard D,

carrying thereon the covers E and-F and the reel L4 is caused to rise by the continued 1ngress of water through the gate valve B until the flange f of. the lower cover F contacts with the underside of the flange or stop ring G of the receptacle C. The upward pressure at this timeof the cover flange f with its intcrposed packing ring f against the stop ring G insures an exclusion of any water or other substance from. the nowempty receptacle The hydrant is now ready for serv .ice and in case a stream of water is required therefrom, it is only necessary to open any one of thenozzlc valves j to the desiredextent whereby in connection with an in creased, or diminished, opening of thegate valve B, by means of handle I, a stream of water ma y be mac or force u pressure main.

it is to be understood "that the main pur- 305C for which a hydrant of this class would e provided,would be for fire extinguishing, in which case the turning on of the stream through the valve j, as 'above described, would be preceded by the unreeling of the p to the fullcapacity of the hose N, which is kept in coupled connection with onc of the hydrant nozzles J.

Attcr the hose has been unreeled and laid J, of which in Fig. 2 three are provided, the larger one being for [the cnginc hosc connection.

delivered of any desired vol-' 1. and valve ham and the nozzle pipe n is in the hands oi an operator who in cmcrgcncics need not he a professional fireman. lllc valve lie I may be opcratod by a person stationed at the hydrant in rcsponsr to signals or orders, or as occasion imi uii'cs.

'ihc cclcrity with which conncctcd hosc appliances in a hydrant oi this construction may be brought into positions for use, and

'the ready pressure therefor, is believed to bc unc.\ celled in hydrants as heretofore constructed, and the advantage of the retiring ol' the entire operative mechanism into a sub-surface receptacle comprised in the hydrant body, thereby removing from the strccts an obstruction to travel thereon that has heretofore been a nuisance and a source is manifestly important.

The closing ol the hydrant is ai'a-omplishcd by the shutting of valves B and J. The automati, drainage valve provides an outlet for the water contained in the chaml-wr l) of the standardx it is to be undcrstoml, however, that previous to the closing of the hydrant above described, the hose N is uncoupled fromthe nozzle J and is drained and dried before being wound onto the reel l).

The provisions for the drying of the hose after use, which may properly form an important adjunct of the before described hy' drant constructions, consists, as a reference to Figs. 4and 5 of the drawings illustrates, in a sectional hose supporting pole U which is composed of tubular telescoping sections a adapted to slide one within the other; and

pivoted latches u, on the lower end portion of each tube section, which are ada )ted to engage the. top portions of the hex t larger sec tion, as seen in Fig. 1, thereby providing a supporting means for one section on the ot ier.

The section forming tl tion of the pole, when in operative or raised position, has provided on the to end thereof a cross bar or yoke 7L 'O1l whic the central portion of a line of hose is supported and thereby elevated. (See Fig. '4.) i

A receptacle Y which may be secured to the hydrant, as shown in Fig. 4-, by the bolt plates 0, and which extends down undergroundin, a position vertically paralleland adjacent to the hydrant, receives the telescoped sections u in a manner shown in Fig. 5

A suitable hinged cover W having :flocking handle w thereon serves to protcct the re ceptacle V from the entrance thcreinto of water or dirt.

Having thus described my in vi-intion what I claim and desire to secure by ,Letters Patent isz- 1. In a hydrant, a hydrant casing having an enlarged upwardly open chamber portion at its top, a hydrant body vertleall r movable in said casing having near its upper portion a of danger,

' vating the hydrant body within said casing.

rotatable thereabout, and adapted, when the hose reel rotatable thereabout, and hii'ving above and below the reel the covers E and F adapted for closing the mouth of the enlarged chambered portion of the casing, in both the lowered and elevated ositipns of the hydrant body, means for e evating the hydrant body, and the reel thcrewith,-relatively to the casing, and means for opening and closing the water way through the hydrant. 2. in a hydrant, a hydrant casing having an enlarged upwardly open -mhmnbered portion at its top, constructed with an internal flange near the mouth of said chamber, a hydrant body vertically movable in said casin and having at its upper. portion a hose ree hydrant body is lowered, to be disposed within said enlarged chambered portion oi the casing, and said hydrant having a cover at its upper portion to close at the top of said enlarged chamber against said fian e and also having a cover below the reel to c ose on the elevation of the body against the under side of said flange, means for elevating the hydrant body and reel relatively to the easing, and means for opening and closing the water way through the hydrant.

3. In a hydrant, a hydrant. casing adapted at its lower portion to be sidewise connected with a water ,su ply main, and at its lower )ortion provided with a drainage outlet, a hydrant body vertically movable therein, having a valved hose connection nozzle, and having a branching conduit 0 rovided with a closing means, and hydrau ic means'for. elevating the hydrant body within said casing.

4. In a hydrant, a hydrant casing having a top chambered enlargement adapted at its lower portion to be sidewise connected with a water supply main, and at its lower portion ")rovided with a drainage outlet,a hydrant ody vertically inovablein said casing haw inga valved hose connection nozzle, and a reel, and a closing cover E at up or portions thereof, having abran ching con uit O opening through said cover E, and provided with a closing cap 0, and hydraulic means for ele- A hydrant comprising a hydrant casing, and a tubular hydrant body vertically movable in the casing, having a water way therethrough, terminating in a sidewise located valved hose connection nozzle, and closed at its upper end, a valve at the lower portion of the hydrant, a rotatable valve operating rod com risin telesco in and s line-en a ed secti dns lo cated Wilihiii the tuliiilar hy ilr dnt body, and a rod extension projecting u wardly through the closed upper end of t 1e hydrant body, and having means for turnin it.

t. A hydrant comprising a hydrant casing, and a tubular hydrant body vertically movable in the casing, having a water way therethrou h, terminating in a sidewise located valve hosed connection nozzle, and closed at its upper end, a hydrant valve for opening and closing the Water supply inlet at the lower portion of the hydrant casing rovided with an operating screw I) having t 1e vertical rod extension b, the valve rod section G telescoping and spline-engaging said pait b, the stud or rod extension g connected with the upper portion of said section G and extending through and rotatable within the upper closed end of the hydrant body and havmg the disk-like part H rovided with the swin ing operating lever l substantially as and or the purposes set forth.

7. A casing adapted 'to be located below the ground surface adjacent a hydrant and having a lurality of telescopic sections adapted to ave distended relations and the uppermost one having a hose support and means for detachably insuring the engagement of one section in its distended relation.

in another.

8. A casing adapted to be located below the ground surface adjacent a hydrant and having a lurality of telescopic sections adapted to ave distended relations, the uppermost one havin a hose support, and each istending section having near its lower portion a recess, and a latch or pawl pivoted therein.

9. A casing adapted to be located below the ground surface adjacent a hydrant and having a lurality of telescopic sections adapted to have distended relations, the uppermost one havirn a hose support, and each istendin'g section having near its lower por tion a recess, and a latch or pawl pivoted therein, and s rings for swinging the lower portions of said latches outwardly.

Signed by me at Springfield, Mass, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

v GEORGE ALFRED OWVEN. Witnesses G. R. DRISGOLL, WM. S. BELLOWS. 

